Cracker-box



' WHOM) s. E. PARTRISH.

GRAGKER BOX.

Patented Dec. 4, 1888.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN E. PARRISH, OF ITHACA, MICHIGAN.

CRACKER-VBOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,852, dated December4, 1888.

Application filed October 2, 1888- Serial No. 286,954- (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, STEPHEN E. PARRISH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ithaca, in the county of Gratiot and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cracker-Boxes, of whichthe following is a specification, reference be ing had therein to theaccompanying drawings. I

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cracker-boxes.

The obj ect of my. invention is to prevent the waste ordinarily incurredin retailing crackers; and to this end my invention consists in apeculiar device for abstracting any desired quantity from a suitable boxor receptacle in which the bulk of the crackers are kept, all as morefully hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sides of the receptaclepartially broken away to show the construction of the parts. Fig. 2 is avertical central section thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar cross-section atright angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of thelower box as used in one form.

My device consists of a lower box or receptacle, A, and an upper orsuperimposed box or receptacle, B. The upper box or receptacle, B,receives the bulk of the crackers, and is provided with an opening whichcorresponds with a similar opening, 0, in the top of the lower box, andthrough which the crackers are enabled to escape to the lower box.

Below the opening 0 in the lower box I mount within a casing, G, ahorizontal endless carrier, D, which passes over the rollers E and F,respectively journaled in the front and rear of the casing. The casing Gis suitably arranged to prevent the crackers from falling into the lowerbox, and the only escape is provided by means of a throat, H, formedabove the front end of the casing G.

The front of the roller E is provided with a suitable handle, I, uponthe side of the casing G, to revolve the roller and thereby cause thecarrier to travel in a forward direction and carry a small quantity ofcrackers through the throat and the front end of the casing,

from which they drop onto an incline dis-' charge or spout, J, fromwhich they may be received and collected until the desired quantity isobtained.

The front end of the lower casing is provided with a lid, K, preferablyhinged at its upper end at L, so that it may disclose the whole front ofthe box when turned up, a suitable spring, M, being preferably adjustedto hold the lid by its tension in its opened and closed position. In thebottom of the box I place a drawer, N, which, when drawn out, as shownin dotted lines, may be used to prevent the spilling of any crackers orcrumbs, and also serve as a receptacle into which any small quantity ofcrackers may be placed which have been found to be in weighing too many,and which may be served in the next order.

My invention has particular reference to the construction of the lowerbox, A, to furnish a complete device for the use of the retailers ofcrackers. I either provide it integrally with an upper box, B, thebottom of which may be made hopper-shaped and form an easy dischargeinto the aperture 0, with awindow, O, to permit the examination of thecontents of the box; or, for the use of retailers who desire to retaildirectly from the barrel or box in which the crackers are sold, Iprovide the top of the lower box witha rim or flange, P, and with aseries of sharp-pointed hooks, Q, all so arranged that by removing onehead of the barrel and securing the box in position thereon with theflange I, engaging into the open end of the barrel, and the points ofthe hooks Q driven into the staves, the two part-s may be firmly securedtogether and the barrel be used in lieu of the box 13.

It is obvious that the proper way of securing the box A to a full barrelof crackers is by fastening the box to the top of the barrel and theninverting the combination after they are secured together.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is l. The combination, in a cracker-box,with anupper box or receptacle, of a lower box or receptacle providedwith the central opening, 0, the endless carrier D, mounted below saidopening upon rollers, the casing G, inclosing said carrier and providedwith a throat, H, and spout J, and the handle I on the front roller, andthe drawer N in the bottom of the box, all combined to operatesubstantially as described.

2. The combination, with an upper box or barrel, of a lower box, A,provided with the opening C, the rim P around said opening, the hooks Qor equivalent fastenings, the endless carrier D, mounted upon rollers Eand F within the lower box, the casing G, in which the carrier ismounted and provided with a throat, II, and spout J, the crank I on theroller E, the drawer N in the bottom of the box, and the hinged lid K,the parts being arranged to operate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 1st day of September, i989.

STEPHEN E. PARRISH.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES WHITTEMoRE, P. M. HULBERT.

